公开(公告)号：US20240022827A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-18

申请号：US17812635

申请日：2022-07-14

Applicant: QUALCOM Incorporated

Inventor： Nitin Srivastava ,  Prakasha Nayak ,  Rahul Kumar ,  Saurabh Aggarwal ,  Alok Kumar Pandey

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/232

CPC classification number: H04N5/2355 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/23232

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for image capture and image process that support staggered high dynamic range (HDR) using image frames captured at different frame rates. In a first aspect, a method of image capture includes configuring a camera for image capture at a first frame rate; receiving, from the camera, first image data captured at the first frame rate; configuring the camera for image capture at a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate; receiving, from the camera, second image data captured at the second frame rate; and determining at least one output image frame based on the first image data and the second image data. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.

公开(公告)号：US20190020805A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US15663362

申请日：2017-07-28

Applicant: Intevac, Inc.

Inventor： Simeon Su-Ming Trieu ,  Emil Abraham Wilke

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/355 ,  G06T5/00 ,  G06T5/50

CPC classification number: H04N5/2355 ,  G06T5/007 ,  G06T5/50 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/35527 ,  H04N5/35581

Abstract: Dynamic range of a photosensor is controlled dynamically improving image detail especially in dark and bright areas of the image. At least one reset threshold and one reset value are set. At the end of the frame integration the value of the average pixel and the value of the brightest pixel that was not reset are determined and, based on that, at least one of the reset threshold and the reset value are changed. The change may reduce/increase the reset threshold such that more/less pixels are being reset, may reduce/increase the reset value thereby causing the pixels to be reset to a lower/higher value, or change the timing of the reset. In some embodiments, a calculated value for the reset threshold and the reset value are averaged with calculated values of prior N frames, and the result is applied to the next frame.

公开(公告)号：US20180323225A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-08

申请号：US15771792

申请日：2016-09-20

Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Inventor： Shigeki Nakamura ,  Seichi Otsuki

IPC: H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/355 ,  G03B7/093 ,  H04N5/235

CPC classification number: H01L27/146 ,  G03B7/093 ,  H04N5/23254 ,  H04N5/2329 ,  H04N5/2353 ,  H04N5/2355 ,  H04N5/353 ,  H04N5/3532 ,  H04N5/35536 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a pixel array unit in which unit pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form and the unit pixels are grouped into a plurality of pixel groups and a timing controller which independently sets an exposure start timing and an exposure end timing relative to each of the plurality of pixel groups so that at least one pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups is exposed a plurality of times within a single vertical synchronization period.

公开(公告)号：US10079984B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-18

申请号：US15463590

申请日：2017-03-20

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Michael W. Kelly ,  Megan H. Blackwell ,  Curtis B. Colonero ,  James Wey ,  Christopher David ,  Justin Baker ,  Joseph Costa

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/3745

CPC classification number: H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/23254 ,  H04N5/23267 ,  H04N5/2355 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/35572 ,  H04N5/37455

Abstract: When imaging bright objects, a conventional detector array can saturate, making it difficult to produce an image with a dynamic range that equals the scene's dynamic range. Conversely, a digital focal plane array (DFPA) with one or more m-bit counters can produce an image whose dynamic range is greater than the native dynamic range. In one example, the DFPA acquires a first image over a relatively brief integration period at a relatively low gain setting. The DFPA then acquires a second image over longer integration period and/or a higher gain setting. During this second integration period, counters may roll over, possibly several times, to capture a residue modulus 2m of the number of counts (as opposed to the actual number of counts). A processor in or coupled to the DFPA generates a high-dynamic range image based on the first image and the residues modulus 2m.

公开(公告)号：US20180184018A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-28

申请号：US15849992

申请日：2017-12-21

Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Tetsuya Itano ,  Shoji Kono ,  Hideo Kobayashi ,  Hiroyuki Morita ,  Yasuhiro Oguro ,  Kei Ochiai

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/3745 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/363

CPC classification number: H04N5/355 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H04N5/2352 ,  H04N5/2355 ,  H04N5/243 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/363 ,  H04N5/37455 ,  H04N5/37457

Abstract: An image pickup device according to an embodiment includes pixels each configured to output an analog signal based on electric charges produced in a photoelectric conversion unit and a control unit configured to control a gain applied to the analog signal to be at least a first gain and a second gain greater than the first gain in accordance with a signal value of the analog signal. Each of the pixels outputs, as the analog signal, a first signal and a second signal based on electric charges produced in the photoelectric conversion unit in a first exposure period and a second exposure period shorter than the first exposure period. The control unit controls the gain applied to the analog signal by selecting one from the first gain and the second gain in accordance with the signal value, for at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

公开(公告)号：US20180176438A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-21

申请号：US15381371

申请日：2016-12-16

Applicant: Goodrich Corporation

Inventor： Robert Brubaker ,  Gavin Dyer ,  Davis A. Lange

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/445 ,  G06T3/40

CPC classification number: H04N5/2352 ,  G06T3/40 ,  G06T5/50 ,  G06T2207/10144 ,  G06T2207/20208 ,  H04N5/35563 ,  H04N5/35572 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/37206 ,  H04N5/3743 ,  H04N5/44504

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to HDR imaging techniques, and more specifically to HDR imaging techniques for use when a scene is moving. For time delay integration, the same scene location is repeatedly imaged on sequential rows, allowing for different gain values and/or exposure times to be utilized in different rows. The present disclosure utilizes a static or dynamic selection of gain values and/or exposure times on each row to enable stitching of the rows for high dynamic range.

公开(公告)号：US09961278B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-01

申请号：US15029556

申请日：2014-10-10

Applicant: Sony Corporation

Inventor： Yusuke Ikeda ,  Hideki Shoyama ,  Yoshimasa Sakamoto ,  Yuuichi Udou ,  Oichi Kumagai

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N9/04

CPC classification number: H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/3742 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N9/045 ,  H04N2209/045

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image-capturing element and electronic device capable of improving the linearity of illuminance values. The dynamic-range expander 118 expands dynamic range of a pixel value for each pixel based on the pixel value having different exposure times of a plurality of pixels. The integrator 119 integrates pixel values having the dynamic range expanded by the dynamic-range expander 118 and generates an illuminance value. The present disclosure is applicable to complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or the like used in, for example, an illuminometer.

公开(公告)号：US20180077332A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-15

申请号：US15697054

申请日：2017-09-06

Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION

Inventor： Kazuhiko SHIMURA ,  Kazuo KANDA ,  Yoshiyuki FUKUYA ,  Nobuyuki SHIMA ,  Shinya TAKASUMI

IPC: H04N5/235 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/77 ,  H04N9/804

CPC classification number: H04N5/2354 ,  H04N5/23245 ,  H04N5/232935 ,  H04N5/232939 ,  H04N5/2355 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/772 ,  H04N9/8042

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first image processor, and a record processor. The imaging unit sequentially acquires image data groups comprising pieces of image data different in exposure conditions to generate HDR moving image frames. The first image processor subjects the pieces of the image data belonging to each of the image data groups to first composition processing, to generate HDR moving image data comprising HDR moving image frames. The record processor is configured to record image data for still images so that the pieces of the image data belonging to each of the image data groups are subjected to second composition processing different from the first composition processing, to generate HDR still image data.

公开(公告)号：US09900528B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-20

申请号：US15231287

申请日：2016-08-08

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Parker Altice

IPC: H04N5/355 ,  H01L27/146 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H04N5/359 ,  H04N5/3745

CPC classification number: H04N5/3559 ,  H01L27/14643 ,  H01L27/14656 ,  H04N5/35527 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/3592 ,  H04N5/374 ,  H04N5/37452 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.

公开(公告)号：US09883128B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-30

申请号：US15160030

申请日：2016-05-20

Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC

Inventor： Bartosz Piotr Banachowicz ,  Swarnal Borthakur ,  Marko Mlinar ,  Ulrich Boettiger ,  Andrew Eugene Perkins

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  G03B13/00 ,  H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/355

CPC classification number: H04N5/369 ,  H04N5/355 ,  H04N5/35554 ,  H04N5/35581 ,  H04N5/3696 ,  H04N9/045

Abstract: An image sensor may include a pixel array with high dynamic range functionality and phase detection pixels. The phase detection pixels may be arranged in phase detection pixel groups. Each phase detection pixel group may include three adjacent pixels arranged consecutively in a line. A single microlens may cover all three pixels in the phase detection pixel group, or two microlenses may combine to cover the three pixels in the phase detection pixel group. The edge pixels in each phase detection pixel group may have the same integration time and the same color. The middle pixel in each phase detection pixel group may have the same or different color as the edge pixels, and the same or different integration time as the edge pixels. Phase detection pixel groups may also be formed from two pixels that each are 1.5 times the size of neighboring pixels.